Type band setting means in hand stamps



Aug. 6, 1963 H. P. KEcK TYPE BAND SETTING MEANS IN HAND STAMPS Filed May 16, 1961 7774/@ kfw ATTY United States Patent O 3,699,955 TYPE BAND SETTENG MEANS IN HAND STAR/WS Harold I. Keck, Crystal Lake, Ill., assigner ot one-third to .lack W. Robbins and one-third to Bernard Robbins, both of Chicago, lli.

Filed May 16, 1961, Ser. No. 110,392 Claims. (Cl. 10i-195) This invention relates to improvements in hand stamps.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a hand Stamp with means for rotating the type band to selected position without the persons iingers engaging the type band.

It is well known that the conventional hand stamp on the market has serious disadvantages in that the printing unit and the type bands thereon of necessity become covered yand smeared with ink by virtue of the printing process, and that in rotating the band with the conventional disc, the iingers come in contact with the inked band and become smeared and soiled with ink. With the present invention this is eliminated in that there is provided a selector or actuator member which operates each type band individually, which selector or actuator is constructed so that it is manually engaged by the ngers of the hand. The manual engagement of the selector or actuator is at a position removed from the type band so that it is impossible -for the iingers of the hand to become smeared with the ink on the type band or other parts of the printing unit.

Another object of this invention is to provide selector Imeans for rotating the type bands of the printing units of hand stamps, wherein same ymay be readily adapted for use in connection with the present day conventional hand stamp mechanisms, wherein the cost is comparatively low, and wherein the type band may be rotated and selected with greater facility than is possible with present lday units.

Other objects Will become apparent as this description progresses.

In the drawings:

FIGURE l is a perspective view of a hand stamp of the reciprocable type, utilizing this invention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged elevational view partly in section of -the lower portion of the hand stamp, showing particularly the printing unit with the selector means forming this invention.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view taken on lines 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a view partly in cross-section taken on lines 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on lines 5-5 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 6 is a view of the iinger portion of the actuator or selector.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the pawl member of the actuator or selector, and

FIGURE S is a perspective view of the ratchet wheel, showing the wheel on which the endless printing band is mounted and the ratchet plate which is engaged by the pawl of the selector or actuator.

The unit comprises a main base frame generally indicated at 10 and a depressible sub-frame generally indicated at i2. The depressible sub-frame 12 carries the reciprocable printing unit. The main base frame l@ has a pair of side members 14 connected by a top cross member 16. The inking pad is supported on the underside of the -top cross member, as is well known in the art.

A bottom plate 18 is secured to the side members 14. The bottom plate has an enlarged rectangular shaped opening 20 to accommodate the printing unit on the down stroke. Secured to the top cross member 16 of the main base frame 10 `and extending upwardly thereof is a stern dg Patented Aug. 6, 1963 ice 22. The side members 14 of the base trarne l@ are each provided with a camming slot 24, within which rides the cross bar of the printing unit, to be subsequently described.

The depressible sub-frame 12 has la pair of sides 26 joined yby a top cross member 27. The cross member has a central opening and extending over said opening and secured to the cross member 27 is a tubular handle 2.8 having a knob 29 at the upper end. The stem 22 extends linto the tubular handle 23 and a coil spring (not shown) is positioned in the tubular handle, acting against the stem 22 for the purpose o normally maintaining the depressible sub-frame l2 in its elevated position, as shown in FIGURE l. This is conventional in the art.

The sides 26 each have at their lower ends inwardly turned ears 30 which engage the sides 14. The sides of the depressible sub-trame are positioned outwardly and adjacent the sides 14 of -the main base frame and slide thereover.

The printing unit generally indicated at 32 includes -a frame having a pair of spaced side members 34 connected across one end by a cross plate 36. A shaft 33 is secured to the side members 34 of the printing unit and a plurality of ratchet wheels generally indicated at 4G are supported thereon, one of such ratchet wheels being shown best in FIGURE 8. The ratchet wheel consists of a drum or wheel portion 42 which has a knurled surface 43 and a ratchet plate 44 iixedly attached thereto. The `conventional type band 46 is mounted on the wheel 42 and across the cross plate 36 which is the printing end of the printing unit. As the ratchet wheel 40 is rotated by the selec-tor mechanism, to be described, it will rotate the type band 46.

The selector means is positioned and supported on the shaft 33 so that when actuated the selector means will engage the teeth of the ratchet disc 44 to rotate the rachet wheel 46. The selector means includes a rotatable member generally indicated at Sti, which comprises a circular plate 52 having a central opening 53 for passage of the shaft 38. The circular plate 52 is positioned adjacent the ratchet disc 44 but has a smaller circumference than that of the ratchet disc 44. The specic details of the selector mechanism is best shown in FIGURES 4 to 8 inclusive.

Extending radially outwardly of the circular plate 52 is `a projecting member or finger 56 which fis connected to the plate 52 by .a connecting str-ip 5S. The finger 56 is of inverted U-shape in cross-section, having spaced sides 59 and 6d joined by la iiat cross-piece 61. The connecting strip 5S merges into the side wall 60 of the finger 56. The side walls 59 and 60 under the 4cross-piece 61 is recessed to provide a slot 62 between the cross-piece 61 and the side walls 59 rand 60. The inger 56 provides a housing yand support or the pawl member, gener-ally indicated at 64 and best shown in FIGURE 7.

The pawl 64 lis made of spring metal and has Ia T-sliaped end 66 which fits within the slot 62. The pawl then eX- tends forwardly underneath the oross-piece 61 of the iinger 56 and between the sides 59-60 tand then is reversely bent `and extends downwardly land inwardly as at 68 for engagement with the rato-het teeth of the ratchet plate 44. The pawl 64 is so constructed :and positioned in the finger 56 that it is always in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet plate 44 and is normally urged outwardly so that the T-shaped end 66 of the pawl in the slot 62 is suiiicient for securing and retaining the pawl in a positively secured position and does not require the use of ,any `other fastening elements. The top or crosspiece 61 of the finger 56 is the surface which is engaged by the ngers of the hand for the purpose of rotating or operating the member 56.

It will be seen that the ratchet teeth of the ratchet plate 44 fare such that the pawl 64 engages same so that when the member 5 6 is moved downwardly or counterclockwise, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 3, that it rotates the ratchet wheel 40 to thereby rotate the type band 46 supported thereon. However, if the member 56 is rotated in the reverse direction, namely, clockwise, as shown, the pawl will override the ratchet teeth and no rotation will be imparted to the ratchet wheel, consequently, the type Iband will not be rotated.

The printing unit 32 is supported on the depressible sub-frame i12 so las to be rotated from its up position, as shown in FIGURE 1, .to its down or printing position and it rotates in an arc of :approximately 180 in the conventional manner. The sides 26 of the ydepressible sub-frame 12 each have la transversely extending slot 70 receive a cross-bar 72 which extends through alined openings in the sides 34 of the printing unit to secure the printing unit to the depressible sub-frame 12. rl'he cross- Ibar 72 is suitably secured by a washer and pin 74 at one end and by an enlarged head 75 at the other end. The side members 34 of the printing frame 33 :are shaped to provide outwardly extending channels which ride on the inwardly extending vguide pins 76 mounted on the side members 14 of the -base frame 10, as said printing unit moves from its up to its down or printing position and vice versa.

In normal non-printing position, `as shown in FIGURE 1, the spring contained within the handle portion 28 of the unit, which is not shown lbut which is of conventional construction, will maintain the :depressible sub-frame 12 and the printing un-it 32 in its up or non-printing position, in which case the printing type on the :bands of the printing unit are positioned adjacent the inking pad and in engagement with the inking pad. When the depressible subtframe 12 is depressed the printing unit 32 will be rotated in :an arc of approximately 180 to move to its printing position. This -is conventional :and no invention is claimed in this feature. After printing `and the handle 2S -is released the spring in the handle portion will return the depressible sub-frame 12 and the printing unit 32 to its up or nonpn'nting position.

It will be lunderstood that while the invention herein is disclosed in connection with a hand stamp of the depressible or oscillating -type that this invention is applicable to .any other type of stamping or printing device, whether same is depressible or otherwise, since the invention resides in the means for rotating the printing band without the fingers of the hand engaging the printing band and without soiling the fingers of the hand.

After rotating the printing bands to the desired selected printing position by the selector mean-s herein described, the iingers v56 .should -be positioned in their forward position at an Sangle shown in FIGURES 1 and 3 to permit the printing -unit to rotate from its non-printing to its printing position without the protruding fingers 56 engaging any portion of the hand stamp. In other words, while the printing unit 32 moves through an larc of approximately 180, no portion of the fingers will engage the bottom of base 1S of the hand stamp or any portion of the surface on which it rests so ias not to interfere or dislocate the moved position of the selector and finger; the lingers may be positioned to rest forwardly Iat the uppermost and lowermost angle-s shown in FIGURE 3 or anywhere therebetween to accomplish the foregoing.

As shown in the drawings, there are four type bands and four selectors on the printing unit, namely, a separate selector for each brand. Any number of type bands and a corresponding number of selectors may be employed as required. As seen, the two ratchet wheels 40 on the right side of the hand stamp lare positioned so that the ratchet plate 44 is to the right of the wheel portion 42 of each, therefore, the rotatable actuator or selector 56 is positioned so that the late 52 of each is positioned next to and to :the right of the ratchet plate 44. 'Ilhe two ratchet wheels 40 on the left side of the hand stamp are positioned so that ratchet plate 44 is to the left of the 4 wheel portion 42 ofea'ch, and correspondingly the plate 52 of the selector is positioned to the left of the respective ratchet plate 44.

It should be appreciated that except for the specific parts and construction shown in FIGURES 4, y5, 6, 7 Vand 8, :and the corresponding parts in the other gures, that the hand stamp is of conventional design and construction, and that the remaining parts of the hand stamp are conventional and are now used in commercial practice.

In present day practice, the wheel on which the type band is supported has a serrated disc which would be engaged by the fingers of the hand. This would-soil the fingers with the ink or the band. With this invention the serrated disc is replaced with the ratchet ture wheel, shown best in FIGURE 8 'and same is operated by a rotatable member and pawl as described. This permits the conventional hand stamp and/or structure now on the market Ito be modified to the extent shown in this invention without requiring reconstruction of any of the remaining parts of the hand stamp. Therefore, this invention lends itself to lthe readaptation of commercially manufactured structures without the added expense of reconstructing the entire unit and assemblage.

With this present invention the soiling of the fingers of the hand by the printing inks coming in contact with the hand `is eliminated and the printing band may be rotated to the selected printing position. very readily, since the fingers are positioned Iaway from the printing band.

IIt will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made from the foregoing without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A printing unit for a hand stamp comprising a printing supporting frame, a plurality of band supporting wheels positioned adjacent one end of said printing frame, a printing band on each of said wheels, a ratchet member Xed to each said wheel, `a depressible member engaging each of said ratchet members, said depressible members being supported on the same axis as said ratchet member, said depressible members each including a pawl in engagement with the ratchet member to rotate said wheel and said band when depressed `and to override said ratchet member when moved in the opposite direction, said depressible member including a forwardly extending chan.- nel-shaped portion, said pawl comprising a spring member secured within said channel-shaped portion and extending downwardly thereof for engagement with said ratchet member.

2. In a structure defined in claim 1 in which the channel shaped portion has a slot on the underside thereof, and the pawl has a T-shaped end supported within said slot and a downwardly projecting finger engaging the ratchet member.

3. A printing unit for a hand stamp comprising a printing supporting frame, a plurality of band supporting wheels positioned adjacent one end of said printing frame and supported on a common axis, a printing band on each of said Wheels, a ratchet member xed to each said wheel, a movable member engaging each of said ratchet members, said movable members being supported on the same axis as said ratchet members and each having a portion extending radially outward therefrom, said movable members each including a pawl in engagement with the ratchet member to rotate said wheel and said band when moved in one diretcion and including means permitting said pawl to override said ratchet member when moved in the opposite direction, said movable member movable only about a single radius when same is moved in each said direction.

4. A structure defined in claim 3 in which 'the pawl includes a linger formed of spring material.

5. A self-inking hand stamp comprising a base frame, a depressible sub-frame supported on said base frame, said depressible sub-frame supporting -a printing unit, means for rotating said printing unit upon depression of said depressible sub-frame into printing position, said printing unit comprising a printing supporting frame, a plurality of band supporting wheels positioned yadjacent one end of said printing frame and supported on a common axis, a printing band on each of said wheels, a ratchet member fixed to each said Wheel, -a movable member engaging each of said ratchet members, said movable members being supported on the same laxis as said ratchet members and each having a portion extending radially outward therefrom, said movable members each including a pawl in engagement with the ratchet member to rotate said Wheel Iand said band when moved in one direction and including means permitting said paWl to override said ratchet member when moved in the opposite direction, said movable member movable only about a single radius when same is moved in each said direction, said movable member adapted to rotate Within Ian arc so that on depression and on return of said depressible sub-frame the said portion extending radially outward of said movable member will not engage the base frame.

Garvey June 28, 1955 Wallenstein Aug. 5, 1924 

1. A PRINTING UNIT FOR A HAND STAMP COMPRISING A PRINTING SUPPORTING FRAME, A PLURALITY OF BAND SUPPORTING WHEELS POSITIONED ADJACENT ONE END OF SAID PRINTING FRAME, A PRINTING BAND ON EACH OF SAID WHEELS, A RATCHET MEMBER FIXED TO EACH SAID WHEEL, A DEPRESSIBLE MEMBER ENGAGING EACH OF SAID RATCHET MEMBERS, SAID DEPRESSIBLE MEMBERS BEING SUPPORTED ON THE SAME AXIS AS SAID RATCHET MEMBER, SAID DEPRESSIBLE MEMBERS EACH INCLUDING A PAWL IN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE RATCHET MEMBER TO ROTATE SAID WHEEL AND SAID BAND WHEN DEPRESSED AND TO OVERRIDE SAID RATCHET MEMBER WHEN MOVED IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, SAID DEPRESSIBLE MEMBER INCLUDING A FORWARDLY EXTENDING CHANNEL-SHAPED PORTION, SAID PAWL COMPRISING A SPRING MEM- 